Travel Essentials
What's actually in our suitcase.
Every item below is something we own, use on every trip, and would replace immediately if it disappeared. The list is short on purpose.
Must Essentials
Carry-On Essentials
The seven items we genuinely cannot fly without. Everything else is replaceable at our destination.
Away The Carry-On (Aluminum)
Holds a week of clothes for the two of us. Indestructible. The wheels still glide silently after four years.
Eagle Creek Packing Cubes (Set of 4)
The single best $30 I've spent on travel gear. Everything you own, sorted, compressed, findable.
Trtl Travel Pillow
Looks ridiculous, works perfectly. The first travel pillow my daughter has ever actually fallen asleep on.
Owala FreeSip 24oz
The lid handles both sip and gulp. We refill at every airport fountain. No plastic bottles, ever.
Puro Sound Labs Kids Headphones
Volume-limited at 85 decibels. She uses them every flight. The sound quality is better than the adult pair I owned for years.
Tonies Audio Player
Screen-free audio stories on little wooden figurines. Has saved more flights than I can count. Game-changer.
Stasher Reusable Snack Bags
For the inevitable airplane snacks. Silicone, washable, lasts forever. Worth every cent.
Fujifilm X100V
Lives in my tote. Quiet, light, and produces images that look like memory rather than documentation.
Anker 737 Power Bank
Charges the phone, the camera, and the kid's tablet — all at once. The single most useful thing in my carry-on.